Request for Interest in Participation issued to create Indiana Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Resource Center.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Center to Help Increase Number of Hoosier Students Graduating High School with Science and Math Proficiency, Increase Number of Students Pursuing Science and Math-Related Careers

With over 30 percent of Indiana's workforce tied to the manufacturing and life sciences industries and the state's economic development strategy tied to these and other technology-based industries, it is critical that Indiana has a workforce with the right skills to sustain these efforts. Now, more than ever, these skills include a mastery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (math).

To this end, the BioCrossroads life sciences initiative, the Science Education Foundation of Indiana and representatives of the life sciences, manufacturing, logistics, agribusiness and information technology industries, with support from the Office of the Governor and the Indiana Department of Education, are releasing a Request for Interest in Participation (RFIP) to create the new K-12 Indiana Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education Resource Center.

The concept for the science and math resource center was patterned after the North Carolina Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center (www.ncsmt.org). It is designed to be a web accessible, highly 'virtual' organization with a small staff that coordinates and provides access to Indiana's existing quality STEM education resources.

The Indiana STEM Education Resource Center was the primary recommendation made by the Life Sciences Best Practices Task Force, which was formed as one component of a Lumina Foundation for Education grant to the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership for BioCrossroads. The Task Force was a joint effort of the University of Indianapolis' Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning and BioCrossroads.

"As the founder of a company that spans both the life sciences and logistics industries, I am keenly aware that the future of my business depends on attracting talent with proficient science and math backgrounds," said Alisa Wright, Founder and CEO of BioConvergence LLC. She also served as the chair for the Life Sciences Best Practices Task Force.

Since the initial recommendation last fall, the Task Force brought together a coalition of key decision-makers during Indiana's Future: Economic Development and the High School Connection statewide conference in November 2005 to discuss how to further develop the concept for the resource center. One of the outcomes from this meeting and subsequent meetings was the creation of this RFIP to bring together the best and most comprehensive mix of service providers to help fulfill the mission of the Indiana STEM Education Resource Center.

The Indiana STEM Education Resource Center will help Indiana K-12 students learn STEM subjects and skills effectively by providing services to students, educators, schools, communities and other state leaders. It is intended to serve as a point-of-entry to facilitate the use of best-practice models within schools and provide professional development opportunities as well as help align education curriculum with local economic development activities.

"Ultimately, this center will help students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to have successful careers, be good citizens and help advance the economy of their local communities and the state," said Marcie Brown, Policy Director for Education, Office of the Governor.

The RFIP seeks a statewide managing partner for the Indiana STEM Education Resource Center. The managing partner will coordinate activities across the entire state.

In addition, the RFIP seeks partners to coordinate specific activities in different areas of the state, either on a regional or statewide level. These other activities include coordinating research and development in effective STEM learning and instruction, facilitating effective STEM professional development, driving industry engagement, facilitating and supporting community initiatives, outreach, advocacy and career development. The coalition will also provide support to the advocacy and policy component of the center by convening a K-12 STEM roundtable.

The need to improve K-12 STEM education is not just a local issue. According to the report by the Education Commission of the States, "Keeping America Competitive: Five Strategies to Improve Mathematics and Science Education", projections for 2000-2010 conclude that over 80% of the fastest growing occupations and two-third of the occupations with the largest job growth are dependent upon a knowledge base in science and math. But in Indiana last year, nearly half of the state's seventh graders failed the state's first Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus science exam.

"Recent studies have shown that over the past 10 years, the number of high school seniors who are pursing careers in engineering has dropped nearly 40 percent," said Gary Pellico, Director of the Indianapolis Challenger Learning Center. "This new resource center will help Indiana turn this statistic around so that our students are better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow."

"The success of the Indiana STEM Resource Center will be measured by its ability to increase the number of Hoosier students who pass ISTEP +, increase the number of students who pursue and graduate with math and science-related degrees, along with many other metrics," said Anne Shane, BioCrossroads Vice President and lead project manager on this effort. "Improving K-12 science and math education is the path to economic vitality for Indiana. A workforce that is proficient in these skills will help create more job and business opportunities, which will lead to more wealth creation in Indiana. We are now trying to build the capacity to support this mission of more rigorous STEM education in our state."

Responses are due by June 1, 2006. Submission details and additional background material can be found at www.biocrossroads.com/rfip.

About BioCrossroads:

BioCrossroads is Indiana's life science initiative, a public-private collaboration that supports the region's research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. With government, industry and academic resources aligned to accelerate business growth, the region is fertile ground for investors and entrepreneurs to build new ventures. Learn more at: www.biocrossroads.com